Weekend-Delhi

Manikaran Sahib, Kullu – A short visit

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As heat in Delhi became unbearable, as we gave up on staying alive in the huge bar-be-que that seemed to follow us wherever one would go, and finally as our frustration psyched us out since we could not find an appropriate, worthy, exciting place for our holiday тАУ along came Kasol. To make the deal more lucrative, it came across that Gurudwara Manikaran Saheb was close-by, hence a visit was warranted.

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A visit to Taragarh Fort, Ajmer

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Hakim requested me to park the car in his locality where a local lad would be taking care of the car. But, it was not easy to believe a total stranger and so I did not heed to his request and parked the car in the official parking lot which was very congested. It required great skill to park and more to retrieve the vehicle. Somehow I did it. After parking the car, we went to see the dargah along with Syed Abdul Hakim. He introduced us to the nearest structure as Karbala built in memory of the Mohammed Ali, who was the son-in-law of the Prophet Mohammed and who was martyred by the Khalifa. Every year they mourn his killing in the Karbala. It was a settlement of Shia Muslims. According to Hakim, the population of that place was about 5000 for which a separate polling booth is arranged during election time.

From Karbala, Hakim took us to his shop-cum-office, where his relatives were selling the Chadar (Shawl), Flowers and incense sticks etc. and persuaded me into purchasing the items from their family shop. Though his shop was not cheap by any means, we had no option but to purchase from there itself. So, we purchased the items from Hakim and his relatives carefully choosing the items that were being sold at the lowest rates and proceeded towards the dargah. My son, Ruchir looked good when he walked upto the Akbar gate carrying the chadar on his head. After entering the premises, we saw a massive silver sword at the top of a building. Hakim told us that it was Jafarani sword given to the Dargah by Mughal Emperor, Akbar.

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Kolkata to Kumaon – At Lucknow

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It was around 1330 hrs when we completed the places and headed for our hotel, which was not very far. Had a lunch and in the afternoon went to the tomb of “Saadat Ali Khan”.

Just almost opposite the tomb was “Begam Hazrat Mahal Park”, which was build in the honour of a beautiful and courageous woman, dated back in 1962.

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Delhi to Ramgarh, Mukteshwar

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Incidentally, when we left our home for hills, there was sadly red alert on one TV channel announcing heavy rains and land slides in Uttrakhand in the next 48 hours. While my wife wanted to cancel the trip, I and Neerja pursuaded her to take a chance. Throughout our stay, the sky remained heavely overcasted with high probability of rains. Though I love rains and more than that the smell of hot pakoras and steaming mugs of tea, along with refreshing breeze and lurking fears of land slides. Luckily there were no rains till we arrived back home with renewed synergy.

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Wildlife Trails- A trip to the Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur

Wildlife Trails- A trip to the Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur

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The main attractions are the peacocks, deers and jackal sightings around the restaurant during night time together with the boisterous cacophony of the ecstatic birds through the day. Imagine how exciting could it be living that close to animals we only witness on wildlife channels and breathing the fresh intoxicating cool breeze in a moonlit night.

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Knowing Delhi тАУ Khan-i-Khanan Tomb in Nizamuddin

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Rahim says; Do not break the thread of love between people. If the
thread breaks, it cannot be mended; even if you mend it there will
always be a knot in it. The friendship will not be same anymore.
Now, that sure brought an instant childhood connection with Rahim and a smile to the face.
Abdul Rahim Khan was the son of Bairam Khan. History is amazing тАУ how can a son of a Mughal general infamous for atrocities could turn out to be composer and poet.

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Ranikhet and Kausani : Himalayan Meadows – Part I (The Journey)

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The king with his entourage was passing through jungles of Kumaon, when a saint crossed his path. The vain king was offended and soon the saint was brought before him. The saffron clad saint, annoyed with KingтАЩs heckles, plucked a leafy branch from a wayside bush and swiped it across the KingтАЩs bare arms тАУ it sent the king writhing and groaning in pain, as if a million needles were inserted in his arm. This is how the hymns of Ranikhet started.

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Tohfewala Gumbad Masjid

Siri тАУ Third City of Delhi

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Legend has it that Alauddin beheaded 8000 Mongols living in the settlement now called Mongolpuri and built the foundation of his City on these heads. Thus the first Muslim city of Delhi was built in 1303 and called Siri (тАШSirтАЩ is Hindi for head) as a homage to all the severed heads. In fact, Khilji chased the Mongols and pushed them north of Kabul that ensured the Mongols would not attack India again for some time.

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рд╣реЛрд▓реНрдХрд░ рд╕рд╛рдореНрд░рд╛рдЬреНрдп рдХреЗ рднрдЧреНрдирд╛рд╡рд╢реЗрд╖ – рд░рд╛рдЬрд╡рд╛реЬрд╛ рдФрд░ рдЫрддрд░рд┐рдпрд╛рдВ

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рдЗрдиреНрджреМрд░ рд░рд╛рдЬреНрдп рдореЗрдВ рддреАрди-рддреАрди рддреБрдХреЛрдЬреАрд░рд╛рд╡ рд╣реБрдП рд╣реИрдВ, рдЗрдирдореЗрдВ рд╕реЗ рдХрд┐рд╕рдХреЗ рдирд╛рдо рдкрд░ рддреБрдХреЛрдЬреАрдЧрдВрдЬ рдирд╛рдордХрд░рдг рд╣реБрдЖ рд╣реИ, рдпрд╣ рддреЛ рдореБрдЭреЗ рдирд╣реАрдВ рдорд╛рд▓реВрдо рдкрд░ рд╣рд╛рдВ, рд░рдВрдЧреАрдирдорд┐рдЬрд╛реЫ рддреБрдХреЛрдЬреАрд░рд╛рд╡ рддреГрддреАрдп рдХреЗ рд░рдВрдЧреАрди рдХрд┐рд╕реНрд╕реЗ рдЗрдиреНрджреМрд░ рд╡рд╛рд╕рд┐рдпреЛрдВ рдХреА рдЬреБрдмрд╛рди рдкрд░ рдЕрдм рднреА рд░рд╣рддреЗ рд╣реИрдВред рдЙрдиреНрд╣реЛрдВрдиреЗ рддреАрди рд╢рд╛рджрд┐рдпрд╛рдВ рдХреА рдереАрдВ – рд╕реАрдирд┐рдпрд░ рдореЛрд╕реНрдЯ рдорд╣рд╛рд░рд╛рдиреА рдХрд╛ рдирд╛рдо рдерд╛ – рдЪрдиреНрджреНрд░рд╛рд╡рддреА рдмрд╛рдИред рдЬреВрдирд┐рдпрд░ рдорд╣рд╛рд░рд╛рдиреА рдереАрдВ – рдЗрдиреНрджрд┐рд░рд╛ рдмрд╛рдИ ред рддреАрд╕рд░реА рд╡рд╛рд▓реА рдЕрдореЗрд░рд┐рдХрди рдпреБрд╡рддреА – рдиреИрдВрд╕реА рдЕрдиреНрдирд╛ рдорд┐рд▓рд░ рдереАрдВ рдЬрд┐рдирдХреЗ рд╕рд╛рде 12 рдорд╛рд░реНрдЪ, 1928 рдХреЛ рддреБрдХреЛрдЬреАрд░рд╛рд╡ рддреГрддреАрдп рдиреЗ рд╡рд┐рд╡рд╛рд╣ рд░рдЪрд╛рдпрд╛ред рд╡рд┐рд╡рд╛рд╣ рдХреЗ рдмрд╛рдж рд╡рд╣ рдкреВрд░реА рддрд░рд╣ рднрд╛рд░рддреАрдп рд░рдВрдЧ-рдврдВрдЧ рдореЗрдВ рдврд▓ рдЧрдИ рдереАрдВ рдФрд░ рдЙрдирдХрд╛ рд╡рд┐рд╡рд╛рд╣ рднреА рд╢рд░реНрдорд┐рд╖реНрдард╛рджреЗрд╡реА рдХреЗ рд░реВрдк рдореЗрдВ рдирд╛рдордХрд░рдг рдХреЗ рдмрд╛рдж рд╢реБрджреНрдз рд╣рд┐рдиреНрджреВ рд░реАрддрд┐-рд░рд┐рд╡рд╛реЫ рдХреЗ рдореБрддрд╛рдмрд┐рдХ рд╣реБрдЖ рдерд╛ред 1907 рдореЗрдВ рдЕрдореЗрд░рд┐рдХрд╛ рдХреЗ рд╕рд┐рдпреЗрдЯрд▓ рд╢рд╣рд░ рдореЗрдВ рдЬрдиреНрдореА рдиреИрдВрд╕реА рдиреЗ рддреБрдХреЛрдЬреАрд░рд╛рд╡ рд╣реЛрд▓рдХрд░ рдХреЛ рдкрд╛рдВрдЪ рд╕рдВрддрд╛рдиреЗрдВ рджреАрдВ, рдЪрд╛рд░ рдкреБрддреНрд░рд┐рдпрд╛рдВ рдФрд░ рдПрдХ рдкреБрддреНрд░ред рд╢рд░реНрдорд┐рд╖реНрдард╛рдмрд╛рдИ рдХрд╛ рджреЗрд╣рд╛рдиреНрдд рдЕрднреА 1995 рдореЗрдВ рд╣реБрдЖ рд╣реИред рдХрд╣рд╛ рдЬрд╛рддрд╛ рд╣реИ рдХрд┐ рддреАрди рдкрддреНрдирд┐рдпреЛрдВ рдХреЗ рдмрд╛рд╡рдЬреВрдж рддреБрдХреЛрдЬреАрд░рд╛рд╡ рдЕрдореГрддрд╕рд░ рдХреЗ рдПрдХ рдХрд╛рд░реНрдпрдХреНрд░рдо рдореЗрдВ рдореБрдорддрд╛реЫ рдмреЗрдЧрдо рдХрд╛ рдбрд╛рдВрд╕ рджреЗрдЦрдХрд░ рдЙрд╕ рдкрд░ рдЖрд╢рд┐рдХ рд╣реЛ рдЧрдпреЗ рдФрд░ рдЙрд╕реЗ рдЗрдВрджреМрд░ рд▓реЗ рдЖрдпреЗред рд╡рд╣ рддреБрдХреЛрдЬреАрд░рд╛рд╡ рдХреЗ рдкреНрд░реЗрдо рдХреЛ рдШрд╛рд╕ рднреА рдирд╣реАрдВ рдбрд╛рд▓рддреА рдереА рдФрд░ рд░рд╛рдЬрд╡рд╛реЬреЗ рд╕реЗ рднрд╛рдЧрдиреЗ рдХреЗ рдХрдИ рдмрд╛рд░ рдкреНрд░рдпрддреНрди рдХрд┐рдпреЗ рдФрд░ рдЕрдиреНрддрддрдГ рдПрдХ рдмрд╛рд░ рдЗрдиреНрджреМрд░ рд╕реЗ рдорд╕реВрд░реА рдЬрд╛рддреЗ рд╣реБрдП рд░рд╛рд╕реНрддреЗ рдореЗрдВ рджрд┐рд▓реНрд▓реА рдореЗрдВ рдирд┐рдЧрд╛рд╣ рдмрдЪрд╛ рдХрд░ рднрд╛рдЧрдиреЗ рдореЗрдВ рд╕рдлрд▓ рднреА рд╣реЛрдЧрдИред рдмрд╕, рддреБрдХреЛрдЬреА рд░рд╛рд╡ рдХреЛ рдмрд╣реБрдд рдмреБрд░рд╛ рд▓рдЧрд╛, рдПрдХ рддреЛ рдкреНрд░реЗрдо рдХреА рджреАрд╡рд╛рдирдЧреА рдФрд░ рдКрдкрд░ рд╕реЗ рд░рд╛рдЬрд╕реА рдЕрд╣рдВ рдХреЛ рдареЗрд╕ рдЬреЛ рд▓рдЧ рдЧрдИ рдереАред рдЙрдирдХреЗ рдЪреЗрд▓реЗ-рдЪрдкрд╛рдЯреЗ рдЕрдкрдиреЗ рд░рд╛рдЬрд╛ рдХреЛ рдЦреБрд╢ рдХрд░рдиреЗ рдХреЗ рдЪрдХреНрдХрд░ рдореЗрдВ рдореБрдорддрд╛реЫ рдмреЗрдЧрдо рдХреА рдЦреЛрдЬ рдЦрдмрд░ рд▓реЗрддреЗ рд░рд╣реЗ рдФрд░ рдЕрдиреНрддрддрдГ рдкрддрд╛ рд▓рдЧрд╛ рд╣реА рд▓рд┐рдпрд╛ рдХрд┐ рд╡рд╣ рдореБрдВрдмрдИ рдореЗрдВ рдХрд┐рд╕реА рдХреЗ рд╕рд╛рде рд░рд╣рддреА рд╣реИред рдмрд╕ рдЬреА, рддреБрдХреЛрдЬреА рд░рд╛рд╡ рдХреЗ рдХрд░реНрдордЪрд╛рд░реА рдореБрдВрдмрдИ рдХреЗ рд╣реИрдВрдЧрд┐рдВрдЧ рдЧрд╛рд░реНрдбрди рдореЗрдВ рдкрд╣реБрдВрдЪ рдЧрдпреЗ рдФрд░ рд╡рд╣рд╛рдВ рдЬреЛ рдорд╛рд░рдХрд╛рдЯ рдордЪреА рдЙрд╕рдореЗрдВ рдЙрд╕ рд╡реНрдпрдХреНрддрд┐ рдХреА рдЧреЛрд▓реА рд▓рдЧрдиреЗ рд╕реЗ рдореМрдд рд╣реЛ рдЧрдИ рдЬрд┐рд╕рдХреЗ рд╕рд╛рде рдореБрдорддрд╛реЫ рдмреЗрдЧрдо рдореБрдВрдмрдИ рдореЗрдВ рд░рд╣рддреА рдереА рдФрд░ рд╣реИрдВрдЧрд┐рдВрдЧ рдЧрд╛рд░реНрдбрди рдореЗрдВ рдШреВрдо рд░рд╣реА рдереАред рдЕрдВрдЧреНрд░реЗреЫ рдЕрдзрд┐рдХрд╛рд░рд┐рдпреЛрдВ рдиреЗ рдЗрд╕ рдХрд╛рдВрдб рдХрд╛ рдкреВрд░рд╛ рдлрд╛рдпрджрд╛ рдЙрдард╛рдпрд╛ рдФрд░ рддреБрдХреЛрдЬреАрд░рд╛рд╡ рдХреЗ рджреЛ рдХрд░реНрдордЪрд╛рд░рд┐рдпреЛрдВ рдХреЛ рдлрд╛рдВрд╕реА рдХреА рд╕рдЬрд╛ рд╕реБрдирд╛рдИ рдЧрдИ рдФрд░ рддреБрдХреЛрдЬреАрд░рд╛рд╡ рддреГрддреАрдп рдХреЛ рд░рд╛рдЬреНрдп рдЫреЛреЬрдирд╛ рдкреЬрд╛ред рддреБрдХреЛрдЬреАрд░рд╛рд╡ рддреГрддреАрдп рдХреА рдореГрддреНрдпреБ 1978 рдореЗрдВ рдкреЗрд░рд┐рд╕ рдореЗрдВ рд╣реБрдИред рдЙрд╕ рд╕рдордп рд╡рд╣ 88 рд╡рд░реНрд╖ рдХреЗ рдереЗред

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Kolkata to Kumaon – Corbett to Kausani via Ranikhet

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┬аWe reached the city at around 1230 hrs and found a place to park the car and went straight to the market place of the Mall area where maximum numbers of restaurants were there.We had a hearty lunch in a place, overlooking the descent of hill terrain and numerous colorful civilization monumented by the tiny match box like houses. After lunch we went straight to the Ranikhet Golf Course nearby and after that around 55 kms drive to Kausani.

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